Echoes from past breathe life into fete for heroes

Mwakigwena Choir performing the popular Wimbo wa Historia at the Nyayo National Stadium during the Mashujaa Day Celebrations on October 20, 2013. PHOTO/SALTON NJAU.

What you need to know:

  • And Sunday, the same group went through their paces before the founding president’s son at Nyayo Stadium during Mashujaa Day celebrations.

President Kenyatta was only seven years old when Mwakigena choir composed the liberation evoking song, Kenya Yetu.

The choir, led by Enock Ondego, sang the song for the founding father of the nation, the late Jomo Kenyatta — the president’s father — on his tour of Taita Taveta.

And Sunday, the same group went through their paces before the founding president’s son at Nyayo Stadium during Mashujaa Day celebrations.

The choir, whose song goes by these lines “Wimbo huu ni wimbo wa historia watu mnaombwa sikize kwa makini, Ilikuwa Octoba 1952 watu wote tulisikia Kenyatta ameshikwa,” resonates very well with Kenyans.

The President listened to the song keenly in the company of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta together with other Kenyans at the event.

But Mwakigena were not the only heroes in the music industry who turned up to entertain Kenyans yesterday.

There was also Muungano National Choir founded in 1979 by the late Boniface Mganga.

The group entertained Kenyans with two songs— Twashangilia Mashujaa and Kenya Yetu—and was led by Risper Oduor and Ken Indiasi.

Thomas Wesonga of the Presidential Permanent Commission on Music entertained the nation with his hit song Heko Jamhuri, with most of those in attendance joining him in the singing.

Juma Ali Mwagusi from Mombasa also presented the former Kenya Broadcasting Corporation’s call sign chivotitude, Zandale, which was played before the opening of the station in those early years.

Sosit Girls’ High School from Kericho presented a Kipsigis traditional song, Chepkinoimo, while Dr Hamisi Bobusa from Kenyatta University in his poem, Kenya Imekomaa, outlined the country’s achievements since independence with particular focus on infrastructure and education.

Nabir Sansol hit song Karibuni Kenya was also on the entertainment menu and was listened to keenly by President Kenyatta and other Kenyans who joined him in the singing.

Creative generation of Mchungaji/Mtumishi from Kawangware carried the day with rib-cracking jokes from the recent incident at Westgate in Nairobi.

They joked about Kenya Defence Forces’ fight against the terrorists who attacked the mall and Nigerian Afrocinema movies that are popular with many Kenyans.

President Kenyatta, who had been smiling all along, could not hold his breath any more and burst into a long laughter.

Teddy Kalanda, Nabir Sansool and Sal Davis teamed up again to sing Jambo Bwana, which has remained popular, inviting the outside world to visit Kenya “as there is no problem”. (VIDEO: Mashujaa Day: Down memory lane)

Then Gloria Muliro took the stage with her two hit songs, Sitolia and I will Follow You, with those in attendance joining in singing, bringing the stadium to life.

Some 73 heroes and heroines attended the event that was streamed live by various TV stations.

Also in attendance was Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, who unlike the past where he used to sit with the public, chose to sit in the VIP area.

On his head was a hair cut that read, “NOT GUILTY”.